Anti-friction bearing



G. L. BROWNELL.

ANTI FRICTION BEARING.

Patented Dec. 9, 1884.

I IEIESSESI I r Ill llnirsn Status l Arn-N'r @rricn.

GEORGE L. BRO\VNELL, OF 'WOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ANTI-FRICTION BEARING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,873, dated December 9, 188%.

Application filed July 24, I884.

7'0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE LooMIs BROWNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vorcester, in the county of Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Anti-Fric" tion Bearings, of which the following is a,

specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same, and in which Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a vertical shaft supported by a step containing my anti-friction bearing; and Fig. 2 is a top view of the same with the upper collar and flange, B O, removed.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

Myinvention relates to those bearings which receive the end-thrust of rotating shafts, as the spindles of lathes, or such as sustain the weight of vertical shafts or resist a pressure exerted in the line of the axis of the shaft.

A A denote a section of a vertical shaft,

, which rotates in the bearing F, held in the girder E, and whose weight and that of any connected mechanism is exerted in the line of its axis, as indicated by the arrow N. testing upon the girder E is the flange, having its upper surface beveled at H H and its outer edge turned up, as at G G, forming acase or shell. 4

Attached to shaft A is a collar, B, having a flange, G C, with its under surface beveled at D D, forming acover for the lower case or shell. Inclosed in the case is the ring I, carrying the three equidistant radial studs, J, upon which the conical thimbles K K K turn. These thinibles serve as rollers between the beveled surfaces H and D on the two flanges, the surface H forming the track and the sun face D resting upon the rolls K andsupporting the weight of the shaft and connected ma chinery, the rotation of the shaft and attached flange O causing the thiinbles K to roll on the beveled flange H and the ring I to'be carried around with the shaft. Sufficient space is left between the outer edges of the beveled surfaces H D and the upturned edge G of the lower flange to clear the ring I and allow it to move laterally, bringing it eccentric to the shaft A. The studs J, held in the t-hiinbles,

(No model.)

maintain the ring and hold it from coming in contact with either the upper or lower flange. It will be seen that the conical thimbles alone are brought in contact with the inclosing-case, the ring I serving only to hold the studs J radially and equidistant. If the three thim bles K are accurately adj usted and of uniform size, the ring I will be carried around concentric to the shaft; but in case one of the thinlbles should be slightly larger than the other two, the pressure of the upper flange would be brought upon that alone, carrying it laterally toward the outer edge of the track H, and the two opposite and smaller thimbles toward the center until the pressure was equalized, bringing the ring I eccentric to the shaft, the paths of the three thimbles being of course concentric with the shaft, but the path of the largest thimble being farther from the shaft than the pathsof the other two, the ring I by its lat eral motion in a plane at right angles to the axis of the shaft allowing the pressure upon the thiinbles to adjust the radii of their re spective paths, so each thimble shall receive an equal share of the superiucumbent weight. whenever this weight is brought to bear upon oneof the thiinbles, all the remaining thimbles should be arranged on the opposite 'side of a vertical plane passing through the center of the ring and at right angles to the axis of the weight-supporting thimble.

be employed. The outward pressure of the thimbles upon the studs J is received against the inner ends of. the studs, between which and the closed ends of the thimbles I place a washer, L, of rawhide, steel, or anti-friction metal, as desired.

The cup-shaped shell or case G G may be partially filled with some lubricating material.

Collars held concentrically with the shaft and carrying a series of conical rolls have long been in use as an anti-friction device. Such I do not claim, broadly. In such devices the several rolls being held at a uniform distance from the axis of the rotating shaft, they were made to follow each other in the same path, the largest roll by its greater speed causing the smaller rolls to slide on the track. In my device the larger rolls travel in a longer path; being nearer the outer edge of the beveled Therefore, a greater "number of thinibles than three cannot track II, the length of the path described by each roll corresponding with the size of the roll, so that those rolls which from their increased size have an increased speed have likewise a greater distance to travel.

I do not confine myself to aspecial arrangement of ring and rolls about the shaft, as shown, as instead of a collar, B, attached to the shaft and supporting the weight of the same by the shoulders at a, a flange with a beveled surface may be attached to the end of the shaft, which may be held by suitable bearings concentric with the stationary track H H. The anti-friction device may be placed at the lower end of the shaft, the pressure resting upon the thimbles from above, or it may be placed at the upper end of the shaft, and the weight suspended on the thimbles; or, if preferred, ordinary conical rolls may be used with their larger end resting against shoulders 011 the studs; or, in place of a ring with rolls on its interior surface, the ring may have studs extending radially from its outer surface, the essential feature of my invention consisting in allowing a lateral motion of the ring, so as to vary the radii of the several paths of the conical rolls.

I am aware that anti-friction bearings consisting of conical rollers attached to rings revolving concentrically with the shaft have been in use. Such I do-not claim, broadly; but

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a rotating shaft having an attached flange with a beveled surface, and a stationary flange with an opposing beveled surface forming a track for a series of conical rolls, of a series of conical rolls rolling between the beveled surfaces and receiving any longitudinal strain upon the shaft, said rolls being held in a ring or frame rotating about the shaft and capable of lateral mo tion in a plane at right angles to its axis of rotation, so said roll-carrying frame or ring may move eccentrically to the rotating shaft, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The anti-friction step-bearing, consisting of three conical rolls rolling in a beveled way or track, and equidistant, and radial studs held in a ring or frame free to assume a position eccentric to its azis of rotation, so the pressure of the superincumbent load on the conical rolls may adjust the paths of the rolls relatively to their size, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an anti-friction bearing, the combina tion, with an annular ringhaving internal radial arms, of a series of conical thimbleshaped rolls with their inner and closed ends resting against the ends of the radial arms, so they will receive the outward pressure caused by the load resting upon the rolls, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination,with annular ringI and studs J, of thimble-shaped conical rolls K, having their inner ends closed and resting against the ends of the studs J, and washers L, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with a rotating shaft, of an anti-friction stepbearing, consisting of beveled Way H, beveled washer D, rotating ring I, rolls K K K, said ring and rolls being capable of a lateral motion, so the ring may rotate eccentrically to the shaft, and an inclosing cup-shaped oil-box, G, all constructed and arranged as described, and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE L. BROWNELL.

Vitnesses:

K. H. ELLIs, RUFUs B. FOWLER. 

